With the age of the drones dawning, France is training golden eagles to take out unmanned drones midflight at the possible risk of spying or attacks carried out on French soil.
At Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, a quartet of formidable golden eagles is being trained to target unmanned aircraft midflight.
Mont-de-Marsan is one of five air bases in France to boast a falconry.
"The results are encouraging. The eagles are making good progress," said Commander Christophe, head of the air safety squadron that is training the eagles.
The French army last year opted for the golden eagle a natural-born killer with a hooked beak, amber eyes, and a wingspan of up to seven feet.
Like all birds of prey, the golden eagle has excellent eyesight, capable of spotting its target from two kilometers away.
At between three and five kilograms, it happens to weigh about the same as most of the drones that could be used for nefarious purposes or that simply the ones that lose their way. An eagle is devastatingly fast, clocking 80 kilometers an hour as it swoops in for the kill.
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